Suppose someone allures an unsuspecting passerby into a dark alley and then attacks them so brutally as to blind them. That would be terrible. But suppose someone else prevents the victim from getting the treatment that could restore their eyesight. That would be doubly terrible. 

We all are vulnerable to two terrible attackers: attachment and arrogance. Here’s how. 

Attachment: During our life-journey, we are often allured by worldly temptations. When we indulge in them, we soon become attached to them. Such attachment fixates us on tempting objects and blinds us to everything else. Thus, for example, alcoholics often can’t see the toll their alcoholism is taking: on their wealth, health, reputation, relationships, indeed their entire life. 

Arrogance: After being blinded by attachment, we are attacked by arrogance, which makes us believe that we know what we are doing and that we don’t need anyone’s help. Arrogance deafens us to our well-wishers when they caution us about the dangerousness of our attachments. Thus, for example, when alcoholics arrogantly deny their alcoholism problem, they simply multiply that problem.  

This double whammy of attachment and arrogance not only keeps us trapped in illusion, but drags us into darker illusions (Bhagavad-gita 16.10). In Ramayana, Ravana is blinded by lust for Sita. And his arrogance makes him disregard his well-wishers’ warnings; thus, arrogance keeps him blind and propels him to self-destruction. 

How can we guard against inner blindness? If we are attached, we can’t always give up our attachment immediately. Still, we can put aside our arrogance and seek help from our well-wishers. Among all our well-wishers, the most potent is our eternal Lord, Krishna (05.29). If we humbly seek his help by practicing bhakti-yoga and especially by associating with his compassionate devotees, we will, by his grace, relish spiritual satisfaction that will empower us to break free from our attachments. 

Think it over:

  • How does attachment blind us?
  • How does arrogance keep us blind?
  • Is arrogance preventing you from seeking help to overcome any attachment? How can you put aside that arrogance? 

***

16.10 Taking shelter of insatiable lust and absorbed in the conceit of pride and false prestige, the demoniac, thus illusioned, are always sworn to unclean work, attracted by the impermanent.

 

To know more about this verse, please click on the image
Explanation of article:

Podcast:

Download by “right-click and save”